Branham has gone a perfect 3-0 against Piedmont Hills recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Bruins will take on the Pirates at 7:15 p.m. Branham will be strutting in after a win while Piedmont Hills will be coming in after a loss.
Branham will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any points two weeks ago, then bounced right back against Ann Sobrato on Friday. The Bruins simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Bulldogs 56-27. That 29 point margin sets a new team best for the Bruins this season.
Michael Murphy
| 09/19/25 vs Ann Sobrato | 5 |
| 11/15/24 @ North Monterey County | 3 |
| 10/04/24 @ Lincoln | 3 |
| 09/05/25 @ Willow Glen | 2 |
| 11/01/24 @ Oak Grove | 2 |
Michael Murphy was nothing short of spectacular: he rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns while picking up 10.5 yards per carry. Those five rushing touchdowns gave him a new career-high. Andrew Ho was another key player, rushing for 119 yards on only 11 carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Branham was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 367 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Ann Sobrato only rushed for 100.
Another reason for the win was Branham's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Fletcher Stachnick, Mike Baskin, and Alex Madrigal, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, Piedmont Hills suffered their biggest defeat since September 5, 2024 two weeks ago. They had to suffer through a 45-0 loss at the hands of Willow Glen. Having soared to a lofty 45 points in the game before, the Pirates' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Branham's victory bumped their record up to 3-1. As for Piedmont Hills, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 2-1.
Friday's contest might be decided in the trenches. Branham has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 188.2 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Piedmont Hills, though, as they've been averaging only 46.3 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Everything came up roses for Branham against Piedmont Hills in their previous matchup back in October of 2023, as the team secured a 43-7 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bruins since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
